Press-button fastening



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,174

' J. P. MORSE v PRESS BUTTON FASTENING Filed Aug. 50, 1924 -s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,174

J. P. MORSE PRESS BUTTON FASTENING Filed Aug. 30, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ 5 Worst? erg A TTOR/VE) Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,174 ..I. P. MORSE PRESS BUTTON FASTENING Filed Aug. 30, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

l i EQE.

Jenn rirrizrr MORSE, or Knitter, ENG-LAND.

ERESS-BUTTON .FASTENENG.

Application filed. August 30, 1524, Serial No. 735,216, and in Great Britain July 2, 192%. T v

This invention relates to stud and eye fastenings-of the type in which the female member is provided with locking and unlocking means for engaging beneath the head of the stud.

There has recently been developed a stud and eye fastening of the above kind in which the female member is formed of three separate parts, two parts being so arranged that on FOlZLhlVQ'IHOK Qll'lfilh in one direction the fastening is opened and onrelative movementin the other direction the fastening is closed, the third part serving as an abutment adapted to engage with a part of the stud, such as the base, or with the cloth or wall on which the stud is mounted so that the relative movernent above described can be conveniently effected in one caseby depressing one of the two said. parts against the said third part, the second part being held up during said movement by spring means engaging third part. I R

The present invention relates particularly to fastenings of the above type in which the female element comprises three relatively movable parts and has for its object to provide an improved fastening which will be secure in action andremain effective after repeated use. It will be appreciated that in such fastenings resilient devices are usually employed. For instance spring fingers formedof sheet metal have been proposed which move resiliently under movement of the parts; but in practice it is found with such strip springs to be difficult to get the between it and the said desired strength within the permissible. small,

range of movement and further that there is considerable risk of failure on repeated use. As an alternative, helical wire springs have been proposed, but these sufterfrom the disadvantage that they add considerably to the overall height of the fastening which a very serious objection as regardsfastenings applied to motorcar hoods,bags, gloves and the like where anything in the nature of aprojcction is liable to be accidentally caught or knocked and carried away.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening in which the aboveobjections are very largely obviated and the invention consists primarily in the use of non-spiral wire springs.

Theinvention further consists in an im' proved wire spring of special"construction which l have devised for use with female fastenings of the three-part type which effectually provides the necessary force to control the operation of the fastening and is effective with a very slight range of axial movement.

The invention further consists in the detailed forms of construction and combinations of parts which will be more fully described in the following description and set forth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a sectional view of the fastening when locked, and

Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the fastening at the mo effect the unlocking.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section at an oblique angle to Fig. 1, the section plane being carried back as regards the stud-engaging spring.

Fig. 4 is a of Fig. lfthe above Figs. being shown to a large scale.

Figs. 5 to 13 are detail views of component parts on a reduced scale.

Referring now to the drawings, the fasten ing illustrated comprises a casing or body 1 formed of two sheet metal stampings 24, Q5 and adapted to be secured to a fabric. The body has an upper central opening 2 adaptedto receive anaxially sliding member or push-piece 3 and is fitted with a flat plate 4 extending across its interior intermediate its height. The plate 4- is provided with a series of holes 5, Fig. 8, through which downwardly-depending fingers or prongs 6 on the push-piece 3 are adapted'to pass, and

inwhieh they take bearings, anda central. hole 7 within the aforesaid series 5 through which unr ted" is ,i fi apted to pass from below. Thefwall of the hole 7 formed as a small upstandingrim or head 8v which is slotted as shown at 9 to receive the arms of a spr ng 10 as w ll hereinafter appear.

A fiat spring 10 in the form of an elongated wire loop Fig. 7, having two operative arms 11 centrally bowed outwards so as to be capable of engaging satisfactorily around the shank of the male member beneath the head thereof is mounted flatwise on the plate 4t. the arms of the springextending across the central hole withinthe slots 9 and also passing over the holes. ,5. The spring pioxnnates generally to the shape of a hail-=1 pin thefree ends being bent inwards inent is operated to I sectional planon the line iii) i 10, the opening 17 of which is shown so as to meet when set up and augment the spring action. The prongs of the push-piece are four in number in the case illustrated and are cut from .a cylindrical collar as shown in Fig. and the arms 11 of the spring pass between two pairs of prongs and are urged outwardly against them by the bowed extremities of the spring. The end faces of the prongs engaging the arms 11 are formed with lugs 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 5, the lugs having sloping opposed faces 12 12 the lower faces 12 being carried back or recessed further than the faces 12 so asto provide a wider opening between them. i

The body 1 is formed in two parts the upper part comprising a casing 2 1, Fig. 6, the lower part 25, Fig. 11, comprising a dished disk having a wide orifice 13 the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the base-plate 14: carrying the stud 15. Normally, the orifice 13 is partly closed by a Washer 16, shown separately in Fig. less than the diameter of the base-plate 1a.. The washer 16 is urged downwardly by meansot a spring l8, Fig. 9, interposed between the washer and the plate l. Thefspring 18 is specially formed of a singlepiecc of wire bent approximatelyto form acircle formed with inwardly-directed radial fingers '19 which are inclined slightly out of the plane of the circle, and its construction forms an important part of the present invention. Its axial thrust is stronger than the resistance ooposed to the axial movement of the push-piece 3 by the spring arms 11 engaging the inclined faces of the lugs 12.

It will be appreciatedthat a fastening of this kind has to be made strong enough to be secureagainstconsiderable force and continued vibration and hitherto it has been one of the most ditlicult problems to find spring controlling means which would ive the necessary strength without risk of tailure on repeated use, and withoutadding considerably to the overall height of the de vice which would be a further grave objection involving a projection on a flat surface which would becontinually liable to accidental damage by knocksorby catching in heavier moving objects llor example, spring lingers have been used as the stud engaging members, and spring tongues have been a used .as resilient controlling means;

but they have both been found to be unsuitable owing to the difliculty ofobtaining sutlicient strength and durability within the limited space available, Heli'cally coiled wire springs could be de ised to give the necessary strength and durability and they possess theladvantagethat the sprin force is.

length of;

lows:Thefemale member is placed over,

exercised throughout the whole the wire: they, however, possess the disad vantage that too much overall height and range of movement are neccssaryto give the desired force and that they are an imprac' ticable feature within a fastening out the present character intended for use with motorcar hoods, gloves and the like, and required in practice to lie substantially flat like a button. i

The spring now illustrated, however, lull'ills most nearly all three rorpiirclncnts. It so shaped thata pressure applied totlie tips of the lingers is resisted by strain extending through the whole length of the wire and is therefore strong, and the in-l clination oif the fingers can be made as slight as the necessity for proi'lucinga tastcning of small height permits. tillitalgilc strength and durability can readily be ob tained choosing wire of suitable thickness and temper without adding materially lo the dimensions of the fastenii ig, and I find that a practicable fastening suitable for an automobile hood can beproduced with a spring of this character, in which therelzr tire axial movement oilf casing and iraslicr is no more than of an inch. i i

The fastening is assembled in the lolloiw ing manner :-'lhe pusl piece 3 is inserted within the. upper part of the casing 2 1]: as shown in F g. 1, and the plate l. with the arms of the spring extending across its face through the slots 9 is set up in position so that the prongs 6 of the pusli-piece 3 pass through theholes 5, care being takenthat the arms 11 of the spring are c 'igaged with in the appropriate openings formed between adjacent lugs1 The arms ll ot the spring may at this time be rectilinear, the central bowed portion being subsequently formed by forcing the head of the stud between'thcnr The washer 16 is then placed on the internal. fiangeiof the lower part otthe casing; up above it and the the spring 18 being t part is then inserted in the upper part 2&- ol the casing. a a

At the sametime a sleeveitlhlfig. lil liar ing an upperhorizontal. flange Si? is arranged to encircle the lower depending circularbnsc portion of the part 25 and the lower edge ofthc.vertical wall of the upper part Eht isthen tnrned in as, shown in llig. 1 so that the plate 4, part 25 and sleeve 26 are firmly held in position in the casing top with the movable parts properly sat n). The will" cal wall of; the sleeve 26 is normnllyol slightly greater vertical, height than the rm tical wall oi. the base portion 25 and is in serted within anopening cut in the fabric 28, a washerilll being tluireaftci'placed hr" low the fabric, and the lower and olbthc sleeve is then benttoutwardly lo llll'll'l a holding flange 20 firmly becurin g the advise onthe fabric as will readily be understood The operation of the dericeis as tolell) upon pressed down; The lower inclined faces 12" of the lugs 12 engage with the arms 11 of the spring 10, and owing to the reedlence of the latter force 1S transmitted to the plate at which tends to depress the body 1 further over the stud. Owing, however, to the engagement of the washer 16 with the base 14: of the stud and to the fact that the spring 18 is stronger than the springlO the body 1 is prevented from being so depressed neath the flange at the head of the stud so as to lock the fastening. The arms 11 of the spring 10 are now positioned above the lugs 1:? in the recesses 12 and the push-piece thus held in position with a loclr that secure against vibration. p

When it is desired to unlock the fastening, the body 1 is depressed and the spring Washer 16 engages with the base plate 14 and on further movement of the body 1 is forced upwardly relatively thereto, the base plate entering Within the lower opening 13 of the member Gn such movement the washer 16 positively engages the lower ends of the prongs 6 and forces the push-piece upwards relatively to the body forcing the lugs 12 past the arms 11 of'the spring so that the latter are free to move outwardly against the recessed faces 12 of the prongs and so release the head of the stud. It will be appreciated that the lateral movment of the spring arms 11 is very slight (usually less than .5 m. m. in each case) and that sufficient clearance has to be allowed between the top of the lugs 12 and the wall of the stud to allow the arms to pass freely therebetween, and further that the prongs of the pushpiece are of sufficient length as to seat themselves in close proximity to the upper face of the washer when the fastening is locked.

The use of a wirespring 10 comprising a closed loop affords the additional advantage that if the push-piece has been depressed before the fastening is assembled so that the arms of the spring are engaged by the surfaces 12, the head of the stud can nevertheless be inserted between the arms 1 1 owing to the resilience of the central portions of the latter and the small. amount of widening movement necessary to permit such insertion Thus the fastening can be engaged as an ordinary snap fastening.

I claim I 1. In a female member of a stud and eye fastening, a body, a push piece axially slidable within the top of said body, an annular member axially slidable Within the bottom of said body, a wire spring approximating to a closed loop extending transversely of the body, means on the push piece whereby when it is depressed into said body the arms of the wire spring are caused to move in one trans verse direct-ion and means whereby when the body is depressed on the annular member the arms of the Wire spring are caused to move in the opposite transverse direction.

2. lnnstud andeye fastening, a body, a push-piece axially ,slidable in said body, prongs on said push-piece, lugs on said prongs having inclined faces, one face of each lug being recessed further than the other face, a transverse plate on said body, having a central hole, and a symmetrically spaced series of holes to receive said prongs, a stud engaging hair-pin spring having arms movable transversely across said central hole, a hole in the bottom of said body, a washer in said hole, a spring betweeen said washer v and said plate, said spring being stronger than said hair-pin spring,a stud having a base plate less than the hole of said bottom but larger than the hole of said Washer the prongs of the pusl1-piece being adapted to be engaged by said'washer whereby depres sion of said push piece locks the fastening, and depression of said body raises said pushpiece and unlocks the fastening.

3. A female member of a stud and eye ll l fastener, a pair of separate parts capable of relative axial movement, means comprising on one part a spring member formed with two arms adapted in one relative position to engage beneath'and in another relative position to be free of the head of the stud, a tapered lug having sloping faces arranged on the other part, the said arms being forced by the resiliency of said spring memberinto contact withone of the sloping faces of said lug, means whereby relative axial movement of said parts in either direction is required to force said arms over said lug against the pressure of the spring member, one face of the lug being more deeply recessed than the other face so that the arms are adapted to occupy either an engaging or releasing position according to their engagement with the more deeply or less deep- 1y recessed face of the lug, the two parts being stable in either setting,

4:- In a female member of a stud and eye fastener, a casing, a push piece slidable within the casing, means mounted in said casing and comprising spring member formed with two arms adapted in onerela tive position to engage beneath and in another relative position to be free of the head of the stud, a tapered lug havingsloa ing faces arranged on said puslrpiece, the said arms beingrurged by the resiliency of the spring member to cont-act with one of the sloping faces of said lug, means whereby either direction is required to force said arms over said lug againstthe resiliency ofthe s rin member, one face of the lug beine b l \j a more deeply recesed than the other 7 face,

whereby the arms are adapted to occupy either anengaging or releasing position according as they engage the more deeply or less deeply recessed face, the two parts being stable in either setting. I v i 5.111 a female-member of a'stnd and eye fastening, a pair of separate parts capable of relative axial movement, means adapted to engage beneath the head of a stud, comprising a pair of t'ansvcrsely arranged spring arms mounted in one part, two pairs. of spaced lngs arranged in the other part with eaehpair of lugs cmilperating with one of the spring arms said lugs having sloping faces with one o'f such faces reoessedrnore deeply than the other, said spring arms on relative movements of the two said parts being controlled by the sloping faces to position the spring arms in a locking or nonlocking relation.

6.1m a female member of astud and eye fastener, apair of separate parts capable of neath the head of the stud in one position and to release said stud in another position, a tapered lug having sloping faces arranged on the other part, the said resilient member being forced by its resiliency into contact with the sloping faces of said lne', means whereby relative axi a1 movement of said parts in either direction is required to force said resilient member over said lug, one face of the lug being more deeply recessed than the other face, so that said resilient member is adapted to occupy either an engaging or releasing position according to its engagement with the more deeply or less deeply recessed face of the lug, the two parts being stable in either settin a In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

a TOHN PHILIP MORSE. 

